| Xylaria longipes | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Xylariales |
| Family: | Xylariaceae |
| Genus: | Xylaria |
| Species: | X. longipes |
| Binomial name | |
| Xylaria longipes Nitschke 1867 | |
| Synonyms | |
Xylosphaera longipes (Nitschke) Dennis 1958 | |
Xylaria longipes, commonly known as dead moll's fingers, is a species of fungus in the family Xylariaceae.
Xylaria longipes was first described by the German botanist and mycologist Theodor Rudolph Joseph Nitschke in the first volume of his Pyrenomycetes Germanici, published in 1867. He gave it the name by which it is currently known. [1] Xylaria is from the Latin xulon, meaning "wood", and aria, meaning "pertaining to", while longipes is from longus, meaning "long", and pes, meaning "foot". The specific name is in reference to the long stem, which is one of the distinguishing features in contrast to Xylaria polymorpha (dead man's fingers). [2] In 1958, the English mycologist and plant pathologist R. W. G. Dennis coined the binomial Xylosphaera longipes, resurrecting the Belgian botanist and politician Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier's 1822 genus Xylosphaera. [3] However, the mycological databases MycoBank and Index Fungorum reject Dennis's name, preferring Nitscke's. [4] [5]
The variety Xylaria longipes var. tropica was described from Mexico in 1989 by Felipe San Martín González and Jack D. Rogers; [6] this is listed on Index Fungorum as synonymous with the nominate variety, [4] but is listed as taxonomically independent on MycoBank. [7] The species is commonly known as "dead moll's fingers". [8]
The species has a roughly club-shaped fruit body measuring from 2 to 8 centimetres (0.79 to 3.1 in) in height, and reaching a thickness of up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in). The top is rounded, while the stem can be fairly long (though is sometimes almost entirely lacking). The colour of the body's surface varies with age; younger specimens fairly gray or fairly brown, but they darken with age, becoming black. As the fruit body ages, the surface cracks and develops scales. [9] X. longipes differs from the similar Xylaria polymorpha (dead man's fingers) by being somewhat more slender, [8] by having a more distinct stalk, [10] and by its smaller spores. While X. longipes has spores measuring 12 to 16 by 5 to 7 micrometres (μm), the spores of X. polymorpha measure 20 to 32 by 5 to 9 μm. [8] The spindle-shaped spores of X. longipes have a smooth surface but for germ slits. [9]
This fungus is known from Europe, [8] Asia, [11] and North America. [10] It is a saprotroph, growing directly from dead wood from hardwoods, [9] including both fallen branches and stumps. [8] It causes soft rot in its host. [9] In Europe, it favours the wood of sycamores, [8] while collections in North America have favoured the wood of maples and beeches. [12] The species can grow singly or in groups, [9] and is more likely to grow singly than X. polymorpha. [10]
Xylaria longipes is inedible, [8] but a 2008 study concluded that the species could improve wood for the purposes of making violins. [13] A number of chemicals have been derived from the fungus, including the antifungal xylaramide, the antioxidant tyrosol, [14] and a derivative of the antifungal compound sordarin, a chemical first isolated from Sordaria araneosa. [15]
Hypoxylon is a genus of ascomycetes commonly found on dead wood, and usually one of the earliest species to colonise dead wood. A common European species is Hypoxylon fragiforme which is particularly common on dead trunks of beech.
Amanita gemmata, commonly known as the gemmed amanita or the jonquil amanita, is an agaric mushroom of the family Amanitaceae and genus Amanita. The fruit body has a cap that is a dull to golden shade of yellow, and typically 2.5–12 centimetres in diameter. The cap surface is sticky when moist, and characterized by white warts, which are easily detached. It is initially convex, and flattens out when mature. The flesh is white and does not change colour when cut. The gills are white and closely spaced. The stem is pale yellow, and measures 4–12 cm long by 0.5–1.9 cm thick. The partial veil that covers the young fruit body turns into the ring on the stem at maturity. The spore print is white. It resembles numerous other species.
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, commonly known as the false chanterelle, is a species of fungus in the family Hygrophoropsidaceae. It is found across several continents, growing in woodland and heathland, and sometimes on woodchips used in gardening and landscaping. Fruit bodies (mushrooms) are yellow–orange, with a funnel-shaped cap up to 8 cm across that has a felt-like surface. The thin, often forked gills on the underside of the cap run partway down the length of the otherwise smooth stipe. Reports on the mushroom's edibility vary – it is considered poisonous, but has historically been eaten in parts of Europe and the Americas.
Xylaria is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek xýlon meaning wood.
Chondrostereum purpureum is a fungal plant pathogen which causes Silver leaf disease of trees. It attacks most species of the rose family Rosaceae, particularly the genus Prunus. The disease is progressive and often fatal. The common name is taken from the progressive silvering of leaves on affected branches. It is spread by airborne spores landing on freshly exposed sapwood. For this reason cherries and plums are pruned in summer, when spores are least likely to be present and when disease is visible. Silver Leaf can also happen on poming fruits like apples and pears. Plums are especially vulnerable.
Xylaria polymorpha, commonly known as dead man's fingers, is a cosmopolitan saprobic fungus. It is characterized by its elongated upright, clavate, or strap-like stromata poking up through the ground, much like fingers.
Camillea tinctor is a species of fungus in the family Graphostromataceae. It is a plant pathogen and saprophyte of dying or weakened trees such as sycamore, oak, or elm. The fungus causes cankers on large branches or the tree trunk. Ascospores of this fungus are transported by wind or rain that can infect existing wounds in trees. It can be identified by orange staining that can be seen on cut wood, and it has protruding ostioles.
Nemania effusa is a species of ascomycete fungus in the family Xylariaceae. It is often found living on the dead bark of willow trees. The species was originally named Hypoxylon effusum by German botanist Theodor Rudolph Joseph Nitschke in 1867; Zdeněk Pouzar transferred it to Nemania in 1985.
Pleurotus dryinus, commonly known as the veiled oyster mushroom, is a species of fungus in the family Pleurotaceae. It grows on dead wood and is also a weak pathogen; infecting especially broad-leaved trees.
Lactarius vietus is a species of fungus in the family Russulaceae, first described by Elias Magnus Fries. It produces moderately sized and brittle mushrooms, which grow on the forest floor or on rotting wood. The flattened-convex cap can vary in shape, sometimes forming the shape of a wide funnel. It is typically grey, but the colour varies. The species has crowded, light-coloured gills, which produce white milk. The spore print is typically whitish, but also varies considerably. The mushrooms typically have a strong, acrid taste and have been described as inedible, but other authors have described them as consumable after boiling. L. vietus feeds by forming an ectomycorrhizal relationship with surrounding trees, and it favours birch. It grows in autumn months and is fairly common in Europe, North America and eastern Asia.
Xylaria hypoxylon is a species of bioluminescent fungus in the family Xylariaceae. It is known by a variety of common names, such as the candlestick fungus, the candlesnuff fungus, carbon antlers, or the stag's horn fungus. The fruit bodies, characterized by erect, elongated black branches with whitened tips, typically grow in clusters on decaying hardwood. The fungus can cause a root rot in hawthorn and gooseberry plants.
Clathrus columnatus, commonly known as the column stinkhorn, is a saprobic species of basidiomycete fungus in the family Phallaceae. Similar to other stinkhorn fungi, the fruiting body, known as the receptaculum, starts out as a subterranean "egg" form. As the fungus develops, the receptaculum expands and erupts out of the protective volva, ultimately developing into mature structures characterized by two to five long vertical orange or red spongy columns, joined at the apex. The fully grown receptaculum reaches heights of 8 cm tall. The inside surfaces of the columns are covered with a fetid olive-brown spore-containing slime, which attracts flies and other insects that help disseminate the spores.
Polyozellus is a fungal genus in the family Thelephoraceae, a grouping of mushrooms known collectively as the leathery earthfans. Previously considered a monotypic genus, it now contains the Polyozellus multiplex species complex. The genus name is derived from the Greek poly meaning many, and oz, meaning branch. It is commonly known as the blue chanterelle, the clustered blue chanterelle, bluefan, or, in Alaska, the black chanterelle. The distinctive fruit body of this species comprises blue- to purple-colored clusters of vase- or spoon-shaped caps with veiny wrinkles on the undersurface that run down the length of the stem.
Hygrophorus goetzii is a species of fungus in the family Hygrophoraceae. It is a snowbank mushroom with a rosy-pink cap that fades to cream color in maturity.
Galiella rufa, commonly known as the rubber cup, the rufous rubber cup, or the hairy rubber cup, is a species of fungus in the family Sarcosomataceae. It produces cup-shaped fruit bodies with the texture of tough, gelatinous rubber, with a rough, blackish-brown, felt-like outer surface and a smooth reddish-brown inner surface.
Marasmius fulvoferrugineus is a species of agaric fungus in the family Marasmiaceae. Described as new to science in 1976, it is found in the southeastern United States. The mushroom is frequently confused with Marasmius siccus, and microscopy is needed to reliably distinguish between them.
Xylaria culleniae is a species of fungus in the family Xylariaceae. This species known to grow on dried fruits and seeds.
Zhuliangomyces illinitus is a mushroom-forming fungus species of genus Zhuliangomyces in the family Amanitaceae in the order Agaricales. It has been known most recently as Limacella illinita. Also known previously as Agaricus illinitus and Mastocephalus illinitus. This fungus is known for its distinctive slimy cap. Z. illinitus is commonly known as the dripping slimecap or the overflowing slimy stem.
